Rack



. 1945- v w. s. HbLABIRD ETAL 2,386,396 I RACK Filed Nov. 1, 1943 mm Y k\\\\ \Y Patented Oct. 9, 1945 RACK ,William S; Holabird, Hamilton, Ind., and Thomas B. Betterton, Chattanooga, Tenn., assignorsto Holabird Furniture Company, Chicago, Ill.,"a

corporation of Illinois Application November 1, 1943, Serial No. 508,500 2 Claims. (01. 211-149) This invention relates to wall racks of the type embodying the plurality of vertically'spaced hori-, zontal shelves, and more particularly the invention relates to such racks wherein the shelves may be removed and replaced indifferent vertical positions of adjustment.

.Wall racks of this general character are-widely used for storage purposes in industrial tool rooms and store rooms, and such racks have, in many instances in the past, been constructed fromsteel erection of additional rack sections connected together and to the ends of the previously erected sections, and such prior racks were also adapted to convenient disassembly so as, to facilitate rearrangement of. storage facilities. In, other instances, of course, such racks have been more or less permanent in-character. I However, in prior racks of the aforesaid character, the removal'or adjustment of the shelves to attain difierent vertical adjustments or spacings of the shelves has been quite difficult and impractical, and has in most-instances involved material disassembly of the racks.

An important object of this invention is therefore tov enable the shelves in such wall racks to be readily changed as to vertical position, and'a related object is to enable this to be done by movement of the shelves in a front-to-rear direction. v

Further objects related to the foregoing are to enable the shelves in such a rack section to be easily and quickly inserted or positioned. and firmly supported in various positions relative to eachj other, and toenable such shelves in adja- .1 centr ack, sections to be positioned in alignment sections of a rack insuch manner as will prevent shifting of a supporting shelf'section and which also afford a flush continuation of the shelf surface to avoid leaving a gap at the ends of the shelf or at the joining of horizontally aligned shelf sections in adjacent sections of racks.

Other and furtherobjects of the present in-- vention will be apparent from the following description and claimsand are illustrated in the accompanying drawing which, by way of illustra-j tion, shows preferred embodiments and the principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims. In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an extensible wall rack embodying the features of the inventionj Fig. 2 is a fragmental perspective view of the frame assembly :between adjoining rack sections; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig.2, showing the shelves in place;

Fig.4 is a fragmental perspective view similar to Fig. 2, showing a modified embodiment of the invention;

Fig.. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig; 6 is a sectional view of aframe assembly showing another modified form of shelfsupportingmemb'enand Fig. -7 is a perspective view showing still another form of shelf supporting member.

In the form chosen for disclosure herein the invention is illustrated as embodied in a multiple section rack I0 ofthe generalcharacter {shown in our Patent No. 2,305,571, patented December 15, 1942,3and this rack as illustratedhasrack sections. l0A and MB fully erected and ready for use in such a relation that a third rack sec-' tion may be erected as an extension from the end of the rack 103 when it. .becomesnecessary to expand the storage facilities afforded by the previously erected rack sections WA and IOB; The sectional rack herein shown is of such a con--. struction as to enable the structural elements thereof to be made from wood, in the form of natural wood, plywood or the like,- and the rack is such-that it may be shipped inwhat may be termed knocked down relation for erection by relatively unskilled help at the location in which it is; to be used. Furthermore, the rack sections illustrated may be -joined together inthe'desired number, and sections may be added as required to form ontinuations of previously erected sections. The arrangementof the sectional rack herein illustrated is such that; the exposed end ofan end section maybe assembled so as-to afforda finished appearance, thus making it optional with the user whether or not the exposed end shall be closed with a sheet of material. Moreover, the illustrated sectional rack maybe disassembled and again erected where the user desires to rearrange the. storage space aiforded by :such racks, and, in addition,:the' racks are so constructed and related that all of the intermediate shelves may be adjusted to different and relatively closely spaced locations to thereby enable the racks to accommodate articles of different sizes as required.

In attaining the foregoing advantageous results the sectional rack I is formed from a plurality of similar upstanding frame assemblies I2 disposed at and between the ends of the several sections and between which a plurality of horizontal shelves I3, I4 and I5 are extended and r supported as shown in Fig. 1. The assemblies I2- each comprise front and rear columns or posts I1 and I8 and top and bottom rails' I3 and- 21 which connect the front andrear posts Hand I8 to form a rigid structure or assembly and if desired these frame assemblies I2 may be exact duplicates of each other. In the present instance the lower rail 2I is disposed between the lower ends of the front and rear posts I! and I8 and the front and rear posts are secured to the ends of the lower rail 2i by means such as nails or screws 22, shown only in Fig. 1, and if desired a suitable adhesive or glue may also be employed to augment the action of such nails or screws. The upper rail I9 is also located between the front and rear posts I1 and land the arrangement is such that the upper face of the upper rail I9 is flush with the upper ends of the front and rear posts. The front and rear posts may be secured directly to the upper rail I9 by means such as nails or screws 23, shown only in Fig. 1, the fastening'action of which would in any event be augmented by the use of suitable adhesive or glue joint.

Thus it will be clear that the frame assemblies I2 are in the form of relatively rigid rectangular structures Which may be disposed in upstanding and horizontally spaced relationship so that the shelves I3, [4 and I5 may extend therebetween. To facilitate the erection of the sectional racks of this invention the upper shelfI3 and the lower shelf I4 are so formed that they may be readily secured to the upper and lower rails respectively of a pair of adjacent frame assemblies I2 to form a relatively rigid upstanding structure upon which the intermediate shelves I5 may then be mounted. To this end each of the top shelves I3 is secured to the top rails of adjacent frame assemblies, adjacent to each end of the shelf by means such as screws 24 The lower shelves 14 may be similarly secured to the lower rails 21 of such frame assembI-ies. After the upper and lower shelves I3 and I4 have been secured so as to connect a pair of frame assemblies I2, the intermediate shelves I 5 may be put into position.

In accordance with the present invention, a plurality ofshelf supporting means are provided on each frame assembly so that the ends of the intermediate shelves [5 may be rested thereon. In the present instance these supporting means are removably mounted to the front and rear posts of each frame assembly at corresponding vertically spaced intervals, and in view of the various problems presented in a'single rack assembly, the supporting means are provided in several interchangeable-forms such as those illustrated at 25, 26, 21 and 28, and which will be described in detail hereinafter. Receiving means for said shelf supporting means is provided in each frame section I2 in the form of horizontal grooves 29 formed in the adjacent faces of the front and rear posts I1 and I8 at corresponding vertically spaced intervals, it being noted that such grooves were employed in the rack disclosed in our aforesaid patent. The grooves are relatively shallow and extend entirely across the faces of the posts.

Each of the above mentioned shelf supporting means consists of a shelf bearing member 3I and a filler member 32 which may be formed from a single piece of wood or from two wooden pieces securely joined, as by glueing, so asto present in effect a one piece structure, and each is com- .plete in itself so as to afford the required support for one shelf end when mounted in the grooves in the front and rear posts of a frame assembly. When mounted in place, whatever shelf supporting means 25, 26, 21 or 28, is selected, it is arranged lengthwise to extend from the front to therear-of the rack section between front and rear posts of a frame assembly and its lower portion or bearing member 3I, Fig. 3, is of sufficient length to have its end portions engaged in corresponding horizontal grooves 29 in adjacent posts so as to be supported thereby in a horizontal front to rear plane. The upper or filler member 32 of said shelf supporting means is of a length substantially equal to the spacing between the adjacent faces of the front and rear posts of the frame assemblies so that its ends abut the adjacent faces of said posts. The filler member 32 also is of less width than that of the bearing member, the exact difference being determined by the use to which the specific supporting means is to beput. For example, when a supporting member is to be inserted in the grooves of the intermediate frame assembly l2 of the jointed rack sections shown in Fig. l, the filler member 32 will,

as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, be of a width somewhat less than one-half the width of the posts I1; and I8 so that when an edge thereof is in'abutm'ent with a vertical partition 33 the opposite edge of its filler strip 32 will b flush with a side edge of a post. The bearing member 3I of this particular supporting member likewise will haveone edge in abutment with the partition 33 and its other edge will be spaced or extended outwardly from the post edge to provide a marginal ledge 34, Fig. 3, upon which the end portion of a shelf may rest. It should becbvious that the shelf supporting members 25 not only serve to provide supporting ledges for the adjacent ends of shelves arranged in adjacent rack sections, but that said supporting members 25 retain the partition 33 in place in a frame assembly.

Similarly, supporting members to be mounted in intermediate frame assemblies not provided with the central partition shown in Fig. 3, are constructed so that the filler member maybe of the same width as the posts I! and IB as illustrated at 35 in Fig. 5. In this form the bearing member 36 isof course of sufficient width to extend beyond the edges of thefiller member to provide ledges 34 on both sides,each to support an end portion of a shelf I5 in adjacent rack sections.

embodiment of a supporting member constructed for use in a frame assembly I2 when the latter is at the end of a rack section is illustrated at 21 in Fig. 6. Here the filler member 35 may be used but the bearing member 31 extends beyond one edge only of said filler member to provide a ledge 34 along said edge while leaving the other edge substantiallyflush with the related edges of the posts I? and I8 so that, if desired, the outside face of the end rack section may be suitably covered as with a finishing board 38, as shown in Fig. 1.

The shelf supporting member illustrated in Fig. '7 is like that shown in Fig. 3 except that it is provided on its ends with a nub or extension 39 projecting longitudinally beyond the end which is engaged inthe horizontal groove 29 so that the extensions 39 abut the edges of the associated posts to limit inward movement along the groove should the support be used in the absence of the partition of Fig. 3. Of course, 'a like nub or extension inay be provided on the shelf suDpQrting member 3? shown in Fig.'6 to prevent shifting of said member outwardly of the rack should no endwall 38 be used. The desired ease of assembly or disassemblyor self adjustment of the sec tional rackshould be readily apparent since it'is evident from the foregoing that selected shelf supporting members 25, 26, 21 or 28 may be easily slipped into selected groove in adjacent posts of a frame assembly,'and the shelves l slipped into place between adjacent frame assemblies by inserting them from the front of the rack section and moving them to the rear with their end portions rested upon ledges 34. Of course, the shelves 15 are of a length substantially equal to the spacing between adjacent frame sections so that their ends abut the adjacent edges of the associated fillers as 32 to thereby prevent endwise shifting and thus add to the rigidity of the assembly.

After the supporting members 25, 26, 2'! or 28 are located in their desired positions they may be readily and easily secured in position by means carried on or embodied in each frame assembly I 2. Thus each frame assembly l2 has at least one tie rod 40 extended through the front and rear posts l1 and I8, and each tie rod is in the form of an elongated bolt having its slotted head, en-

gaged with one surface of a post, such as the front surface of the front post I! and a nut threaded onto the other end of the bolt so as to nonrotatably engage the opposite surface of the other post, such as the rear surface of the rear post l8. In the present case two such tie rods 40 are provided in each frame assembly l2 and when these tie rods are tightened, the supporting members 25, 26, 21 or 28 are clamped firmly between the front and rear'posts so as to be held in the grooves. The tie rods 40 serve to prevent bowing of the posts under load and consequently serve with maximum effectiveness in imparting rigidity to the frame assemblies;

and such tie rods may be disposed alternately on opposite sides of a partition as 33 to hold the same in position laterally.

With the foregoing arrangement of shelves and supporting members the shelves l5 may be readily removed or replaced in different locations in the rack sections so as to provide high or low shelf space, and where two shelves are mounted in horizontal alignment as in Fig. 5, the filler 35, which is of a height equal to the thicknessof the wooden shelf, afford a continuous plane surface with the shelf surfaces to present an unbroken smooth shelf extending from one rack scetion to the other. Further, the fillers 32 of Fig. 3 and 35 of Fig. 6 afford shelf extensions throughout the entire length of the rack sections available for such shelf surface, and consequently a very efficient organization is presented by means of which the maximum possible storage or shelf space is made available. Also, additional frame sections l2 may be added to increase the size of the rack assembly and shelf supporting means like those shown in Fig. 3 or Fig. 5 may be mounted in adjacent grooves to support wooden shelves either in: continuous surface alignment with other shelves in the previously assembled rack sections or many otherpositionsof-vertical adjustment.

'In the ev'ents'u'ch additional 'Sectionsof racks are added, such additional sections willbe m'ade'rigid by securement of top andbottom shelves like shelves' "l3 and'ld. In this respect it should be noted that the fastening screws 24 o-f such shelves are so spaced from the shelfendsthat when secured to the respective top and bottom rails of the frame assemblies'the' shelf ends are in-c'en-ftral fronttorear' alignment with such" rails, the

, "screwseng'agin'g the rails' on a line located a distance inwardly'froma rail'edge" equalto one'f arth the width-of said rails.

Racks" of the character to which this {invention pertains; are usedfor storing supplies of: many differentt'ypesof articles,- and it often becomes desirable to afford vertical partitions extending from front to rear'betw'een adjacent shelves of a section, so that by such partitions the shelf space may be divided into bins or compartments. Thus, as shown in Fig. 1, a pair of partitions 4| are disposed between two of the shelves I5. Hence, a compartment is afforded between the two division walls 4|. The need for such division wallsis sometimes temporary so as to necessitate removal of the walls after a short period of use, and in accordance with the teachings of the invention as taught in our copending application, Serial Number' 469,076 filed December 15, 1942, these walls or partitions 4| are mounted in position by means which not only facilitates the original mounting of these partitions but also facilitates removal thereof. Thus a plurality of removable clips 42 formed from sheet metal are utilized in mounting the partitions in position, and these clips 42 are shaped to provide a channel-like form which will receive an upper or lower edge of a partition 4|. When a plurality of clips 42 have been put in place the partition may be inserted by a rearward endwise movement so as to slide the upper and lower edges of the partition into the clips 42. The clips may be detachably secured to the shelves 15 so as to be easily removable should the need for the partitions no longer exist.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the present invention affords an improved wall rack construction wherein a. large proportion of the shelves may be readily adjusted and rearranged as to vertical spacing, or in continuous surface alignment without a break or gap, thereby to greatly extend the usefulness of the rack.

Hence, while we have illustrated and described preferred embodiments of our invention, it is to be understood that these are capable of variation and modification and we therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail ourselves of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

We claim: a

1. In a wall rack, spaced upstanding supporting frames, including front and rear posts, said front and rear posts having relatively shallow horizontal grooves formed in the adjacent faces of corresponding front and rear posts at corresponding vertical positions, a vertical partition in at least one of said frames extending in'a central front to rear plane between the front and rear posts, shelf supporting means having their ends received in the grooves of corresponding front and rear posts, the shelf supporting means -.2.:'In a walk rack, spaced vertically disposed r supporting frames including front and rear posts having horizontal grooves in adjacent faces of said front andrear posts, a vertical partition extend-ingon a central frontto rear plane between the posts ofat least one said supporting frames,removable shelf supporting memJoersJextending from the front post to the rear post, of each frame and supported at their ends in said grooves saidsupporting members having ledges extending into the space between said supportins frames a shelf oi a length slightly less than the; distance between said frames insertable between said frames from the front side, of said rack andhaving-its ends rested in flat surface contact with said ledges, the top surface of-the portion of the supporting members disposed between the front and rear posts being at the same height as the top surface of the shelf to provide a continuation of the shelf surface of a length corresponding 'to the width of said supporting member top surface, and at least the supporting members mounted in the supporting framehavingthe vertical partition being of a Width slightly less than one-half the width of the posts of said frame so as to bear against opposite faces of said partition to hold place.

WILLIAM s. HOLABIRD. THOMAS B. BETTERTON,

the partition firmly in: 

